Sajoon would easily break down the walls Taehi tried to build, and when she steeled her heart, he quickly softened it.
Just like now.
Why was he so good at that?
“Oh, you know well.”
Sajoon’s unabashed smile made Taehi slightly furrow her brows.
Still, she was sorry for what she was sorry for and grateful for what she was grateful for.
“I’m so grateful it’s overwhelming, right now.”
As Taehi candidly admitted, Sajoon leaned closer with his long fingers gripping the steering wheel.
“You wouldn’t need to be grateful for just this if you dated me.”
Again, he moved in so smoothly.
“I’ll let you use me as much as you want.”
Whispering seductively, it was his fifth confession.
The soft breath on her cheek quickened Taehi’s heartbeat.
Taehi scowled and retorted sharply.
“Kang Sajoon, stop coming so close. You know you’ve been invading my personal space too often lately?”
She subtly shifted her body to the side, fearing he might hear her heart.
It’s baffling. Kang Sajoon hiring someone with money to woo her, humbling himself, and even resorting to seduction.
Of course, the reason he was doing this with her was obvious.
The belief that she was the most suitable for a contract relationship, the comfort of understanding each other through mere glances after years of being in tune, and the absolute confidence that she would never like him romantically.
But what now, Kang Sajoon? I like you too now. No, I love you.
Taehi gently pushed Sajoon’s immobile shoulder with her palm.
Reluctantly straightening his back at her slight force, Taehi sighed softly.
“My head hurts because of Mom right now. Let’s talk about us later.”
“When later?”
His tone was so assertive, as if he was retrieving a possession.
Every rejection seemed to increase his confidence and eagerness.
He just didn’t know when to give up.
“If you followed me to the blind date location, I thought you’d agree to date me. Even if you resisted, I expected you to eventually say yes.”
Taehi now understood the intention behind today’s blind date.
If Taehi had followed him to test his patience, Sajoon had tested whether she would push back or if her heart was open to him.
“Jinwon said that when you confess and ask to date, you should at least give a bouquet to save the girl’s pride.”
She wanted to ask if it was Park Seoryeon who suggested it instead of Jinwon but decided against it. It seemed better to pretend she didn’t know about that woman.
When Taehi remained silent, Sajoon spoke again.
“Don’t feel bad, I’ll buy you one later.”
“I’m not upset. I don’t even like flowers.”
She disliked flowers. Then Sajoon, smiling like a flower himself, glanced over Taehi’s shoulder.
“Your mom will be worried, let’s go.”
“Okay.”
“Call me if you’re bored.”
“You call me this time!”
Taehi retorted, and Sajoon chuckled, waving his hand as he walked away.
Turning around, Taehi saw Hyesook at the door, watching them.
Now that she had shown Hyesook that things were unchanged with Sajoon, it was time to have a conversation. What was she hiding? What was she so afraid to lose?
“I’m sorry, my daughter. Your father came and told me Sajoon was going on blind dates. Saying you’re nothing to each other anymore, he threatened to arrange blind dates for you with strange men. I got so upset…”
Sitting on the opposite sofa, Hyesook cautiously asked Taehi again.
“Taehi, is there really no chance at all that you’ll marry Sajoon?”
With a throbbing headache, Taehi responded irritably.
“Why are you doing this too, Mom? Were you thinking the same as him? If so, you’re no different.”
Tears quickly filled Hyesook’s eyes.
Taehi knew her words had cut deep but believed it was necessary to say them.
“Mom, I can live a fabulous life on my own without a man or marriage. I only need you, and you only need me, right?”
“Taehi…”
“Let’s just live happily, the two of us. You without that man, and me without Kang Sajoon.”
Hyesook seemed to want to say something but eventually sighed deeply.
“Mom, the director offered me a long-term assignment in France. I’ve declined before, but I’m thinking about accepting it this time.”
Hyesook, hearing about the trip for the first time, raised her voice in anger.
“Mintaehi! How can you think about such a thing without discussing it with me? Say no, you can’t go!”
Taehi felt more hurt than surprised. Why did she refuse to listen to my thoughts?
Frustrated, Taehi responded.
“This is my life and my future. Why do I need to consult you?”
Taehi was also human.
She knew how to be emotional, get angry, and explode.
“I’ve lived for you until now, Mom. I’ve been a good daughter, listening to that man because of you. Now I want to stop. From now on, I want to live for myself.”
Reflecting, she realized how foolish she had been.
Tied to Sajoon and Hyesook, she had wasted 13 years, declining great opportunities.
Now in pain and clarity, she decided to live for herself.
Love doesn’t feed you, nor does Mom.
“Let’s live for myself from now on.”
Love doesn’t feed you, nor does Mom.
“I’m thinking of leaving in three months. If I go, I won’t be able to return to Korea for at least two to three years. If I adapt well there, I might even settle down.”
It’s hard to let go, but it’s not impossible.
It will be hard, painful, and I’ll miss things at first, but time will heal.
“The company is really good. It’s worth the hard work I put into my studies. They even provide a house if you have a family to bring along.”
As if she heard something she shouldn’t have, Hyesook closed her eyes.
“So, Mom, just decide. Whether to go to France with your daughter or stay here, clinging to that man.”
“…….”
“Even if you don’t go, I’ll go alone.”
After a while, Hyesook slowly opened her eyes.
“Of course, I choose you. It’s always been you.”
“Then let’s go together. Let’s not endure being belittled here. That’s all.”
“I’ll go with you, Taehi. But on one condition – get married. It doesn’t have to be Sajoon. Bring any man you like. Promise to marry by next year, and I’ll follow you.”
“Mom, didn’t I say I’m not getting married…?”
“You have to marry!”
Hyesook’s stern and fearful expression genuinely surprised Taehi.
Realizing what she had done, Hyesook became distraught, crying and repeatedly apologizing. After a while, she hesitantly explained her obsession with Seontae and the necessity of marriage.
Exactly 10 minutes later, Taehi left the house and called Minseontae.
“Can we talk? Where are you right now?”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
